Witnesses sought for Busselton assaults

By
Nicole Asher

A WOMAN from Geographe was charged with assaulting a public officer and criminal damage last Wednesday following a Department of Housing officer attempting to conduct an annual inspection.

A WOMAN from Geographe was charged with assaulting a public officer and criminal damage last Wednesday following a Department of Housing officer attempting to conduct an annual inspection.

The 35-year-old allegedly assaulted the female officer after refusing her entry to the DOH home in Geographe.

The officer informed the tenant that court proceedings would be lodged to gain entrance to the property and turned to leave when the tenant allegedly pushed the officer in the back twice, causing her to fall on to a fence.

The accused then allegedly grabbed the victim around the neck with both hands, before the victim broke free, seeking refuge in her vehicle.

It is alleged the tenant then kicked the side of the car, causing $1300 damage.

The Department of Housing officer received soft tissue injuries.

The tenant was arrested on Thursday and faced Busselton Magistrates Court on Monday.

She has been remanded, to reappear on February 2.

Senior Sergeant Steve Principe has asked any witnesses to the assault to come forward.

“This is a very serious charge – it is the same charge as assaulting a police officer,” Senior Sergeant Principe said.

“Anybody who saw or heard anything should call Busselton Police on 9754 9555 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

Police are also calling for a witness of a fight between two females in front of the Super Nova at the show on Friday night.

The two women involved in the fight, which took place at 9.15pm, are understood to be known to each other.

Police are asking for a male who volunteered information to police at the time to come forward.

Despite this incident, the show went relatively smoothly, according to Principe.

Police reported four lost children, who were all located, five liquor infringements, four move-on notices, six evictions from the show grounds and the theft of a handbag which had been left on the ground in sideshow alley.

A handbag was also stolen from an unlocked car on Adelaide Street on Friday night.

“The problems we normally encounter at the show is antisocial behavior, but that was restricted to one assault this year, there was minimal offending around the grounds,” he said.

A car was stolen after thieves broke in to Busselton Home Comfort and Energy Centre on Bussell Highway.

Burglars forced a roller door at the premises and stole car keys and a Ford Falcon utility.

A 19-year-old man was later arrested and charged with burglary and stealing a motor vehicle.

Police charged a 20-year-old man with disorderly behaviour and an indecent act after Hobson Street residents reported him running around naked at 9pm on Saturday.

When police arrived he was uncooperative and refused to go home.

A woman reported a burglary after she saw a male aged between 13-16 years in her home on Friday night – nothing was stolen and there was no forced entry.

A holiday home on Centurion Way had a window smashed and walls kicked in between October 28 and Saturday morning.

Another holiday home was broken into between October 14 and Friday evening. Thieves smashed a kitchen sliding door to access the Maggie Way home, but stole nothing.

Chocolate bars and a money box were stolen from a cafe on Cook Street after thieves smashed a window to gain entry.

A car window was broken and a packet of cigarettes and two lighters stolen on Costello Road on Friday.

A staff member at Albies Bar and Bistro had their wallet stolen at 8pm on Friday.

A 23-year-old man was identified from CCTV images and charged with stealing.